Rowland Warns Of Capitol Foot-dragging On Adriaen's Landing

Gov. John G. Rowland warned Wednesday that legislative foot- dragging could result in the death of Adriaen's Landing with the end of the legislative session in two weeks.

Legislators who hope to wrap up a state budget by next week will have to decide if the riverfront development project will receive state money designated for an NFL stadium now that the New England Patriots pulled the plug.

Rowland says that, despite an agreement more than two weeks ago with legislative leaders that the full $100 million would still go to Hartford, the legislature has not move quickly to craft a bill for the revised Adriaen's Landing plan.

``If we walk away this session, the private developers go away, CTG goes away, Phoenix goes away, and UConn Division 1A football goes away,'' Rowland said in his Capitol office Wednesday. ``The only thing that will be accomplished is turning off all the stakeholders and all the players, who I don't think you can get back to the table.''

House Speaker Moira K. Lyons said Wednesday that the money for Hartford is safe -- as long as the matching private investment is there.

Also Wednesday, development teams representing two visions of Adriaen's Landing scrambled to refocus them into a single proposal that would give state legislators and private investors confidence that a detailed plan exists.

Working against the deadline of the legislative session, which ends June 9, the Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Co. circulated a redesigned riverfront proposal to legislative leaders last week. The Waterford Group, developers of the Mohegan Sun, have also circulated their own ideas for the project.

``We're not competing here,'' said Jon Sandberg, a Phoenix spokesman. ``The advantage is getting something done that benefits Hartford. We need a unified plan and that's what we're working toward.''

Sources say both plans make substantial changes in the size and scope of the project, but also avoid some stumbling blocks that tripped up the Patriots stadium plan.

For example, both plans would require moving only part of the CNG steam plant; they also avoid sticking any part of any stadium over any highway.

``The new plans will be easier to fit on the site,'' said Arthur Anderson, chairman of the Capital City Economic Development Authority. ``But first things first; if you're building a house you ought to have the money.''

At issue for legislators is the cost of a smaller, domed stadium for UConn football and whether there is private-sector financial muscle to move forward with Adriaen's Landing. A total of $210 million in private investment is required before millions more in state bonding money, controlled by CCEDA, is freed up.

On Friday, legislative leaders got a status report from Phoenix that included letters from seven banks and insurance companies that do business in the state as well as the city's pension fund, pledging various levels of financial support for an Adriaen's Landing mortgage pool.

Rowland praised The Waterford Group proposal, which would invest $210 million of private money to build ``high-end destination outlet stores,'' restaurants, entertainment and a hotel linked to a state-financed convention center.

``They're proven producers,'' Rowland said. ``They've built numerous hotels. The retail people are some of the best in the world.''